Licence to speed: MI5 and MI6 spies allowed to break speed limits when national security is under threat

They will be afforded the same exemptions as police, fire and ambulance drivers

Licence to speed: Daniel Craig stars as James Bond - who can now legally break the speed limit

Spies for MI5 and MI6 are to be given a "licence to speed" for the first time, with the government set to exempt them from motoring laws in line with police, fire, and ambulance drivers.

Officers in the security services currently have to obey the same rules of the road as everybody else - even if national security is under threat.

But transport minister Robert Goodwill has said he will hand them the same exemptions as drivers for the emergency services.

Under the changes, spies will be able to break the speed limit once they have completed a course training them in high-speed driving.

Vehicles carrying organs for transplant, bomb disposal units and mountain rescue teams will also be added to the list of services that are legally allowed to break the speed limit.

It is thought more than 90% of people who responded to a Department for Transport consultation about the issue backed extending the speeding exemption to those involved in the protection of life and limb or national security.